letter from the editor

It’s time to celebrate: Not only is it the 30th anniversary of the Sundance Film Festival, it also happens to be our one-year anniversary at Verge. This marks our second annual Sundance preview issue — and the fourth print edition of our otherwise online-only magazine. With the notable exception of founder Robert Redford, nobody knows Sundance quite as well as Verge’s Creative Director, Jeff Vespa, who has served as the festival’s official photographer since 2003.

“I never thought I would be in a position to have Jeff take a picture of me,” says Desiree Akhavan, one of seven Sundance sensations profiled inside. “Over the past ten years, I have been salivating over his cast photos on IMDB and WireImage. You know, the kind where Patricia Clarkson looks effortlessly chic in cashmere and everyone’s hugging?” adds the Iranian-American auteur. Akhavan is in distinctly international company, which reflects the array of foreign breakout stars showcased at the festival this January. We flew in our picks for the best and brightest talent to be photographed at Verge’s L.A.-based studios. The diverse lineup also includes Parisian Astrid Bergès-Frisbey, Londoner John Boyega and Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee. (Even California girl Maika Monroe is just back from Brazil, where she indulged in her other professional career: Kiteboarding.)

“I have been tracking the careers of newcomers John, Maika and Astrid for a few years, watching them evolve and waiting for the right opportunity to shoot them,” says Jeff, who first photographed Kodi on the film festival circuit when he was only twelve years old. (Now he’s seventeen — and six feet tall.) “Verge is all about discovery,” Jeff adds, “that wonderful moment when you first set eyes on someone and find yourself moved by their performance in a movie, or even just by their photograph.” We think you will be similarly inspired by the fresh faces (and their accompanying success stories) in the following pages and hope that you will raise a glass right along with us in celebration.

Cheers!

James Patrick Herman

Editorial Director

Maika Monroe

The Guest

Interview by James Patrick Herman  Photographs by Jeff Vespa

Where are you from? 

“I am from Santa Barbara. I wanted to be a professional kiteboarder before acting took over my life. It is similar because you have to be fearless — if you are afraid, then you can’t do either one.”

As a blonde American actress, you could not ask for a better last name than Monroe. Are you a fan of Marilyn? 

“Are you kidding me?”

What was your big break? 

“At Any Price, my film with Zac Effron, because it went to Venice, Toronto, Telluride and South by Southwest.”

Having already rocked the red carpet in Marchesa at the Venice Film Festival, will indie, snowy Sundance feel like a letdown? Uggs are a far cry from Balmain shoes! 

“I’m excited that it is more casual — I won’t have to pack a ball gown.”

What have you heard are the highs and lows of Sundance? 

“Worst thing’s easy: Freezing your ass off. And then best thing? Every single person told me there is just something magical about this festival. I don’t know what that is, but I will get back to you.”

What’s the buzz about The Guest? 

“My costar is Dan Stevens from Downtown Abbey playing a role that seems like his polar opposite — he’s psychotic.”

Describe your character? 

“I’m this punk girl with platinum hair who falls for the bad guy. She is a strong, smart girl, but she’s not confident. Her weakness is a lack of self-worth.”

Before you became a Sundance sensation, did you ever have a normal job? 

“I did internships at veterinarian hospitals, so I witnessed surgeries and I even saw a cat get put down, which was one of the worst things ever. I realized that I could not live with the regret that vets must have — how do they sleep at night?”

Are you a Robert Redford fan? 

“What is that movie? Something and the Sundance Kid? Oh, my gosh, it is my dad’s favorite. Redford is so dreamy in that movie. He’s got that manly quality.”

Kodi Smit-Mcphee

Sundance Film: Young Ones

Interview by James Patrick Herman  Photographs by Jeff Vespa

Where are you from? 

“I was born in Adelaide, but my family moved to Melbourne when I was three. Australians just go with the flow — we’re laid-back and positive. But I really like the energy of L.A. I get motivated when I am around other creative people.”

What do you consider your big break? 

“I think when I did The Road because it was such a physically and emotionally demanding movie. It was my first American film with Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron and Guy Pearce. I was twelve. I still remember my audition with Viggo — and that was scary.”

Have you been to Sundance before? 

“I think I may have been there. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I can’t remember. I have only heard great things about it. I tend to not do my research.”

Describe your character in Young Ones? 

“He’s pretty much a simple character, but he is responsible and hardworking.

Do you identify with your character? 

“We are both deep thinkers and independent.”

What’s the buzz? 

“First of all, Jake Paltrow wrote and directed it. His point of view reminds me of Tarantino when Reservoir Dogs came out — it’s strong and raw. It’s sending across some ideas about where we are in the world right now, how humans are evolving and where technology is taking us.”

Did you ever have a normal job? 

“I was a part of a hip-hop dance crew in L.A. for awhile. It wasn’t a normal job, but I got paid for it.”

What do you think of Robert Redford? 

“What does he do? I’m sorry — I’m terrible with the names of actors and directors.  But I want to end up knowing everything about my art. I think that is important. On the set of Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, I gave Gary Oldman my phone and he made me a list of 20 or 30 movies that I need to check out. He was blown away that I had not seen Raging Bull and The French Connection.”

Desiree Akhavan

Appropriate Behavior

Interview by James Patrick Herman  Photographs by Jeff Vespa

Where are you from? 

“My parents are immigrants from Iran, but I was born and raised in New York. I went to posh private school in the Bronx, which was a lonely, alienating place. At age fourteen, I was voted the ugliest student in my class: My nickname was Heavy D. I felt like a total loser. And I didn’t think that anyone who looked like me could ever be cast in a movie.”

If they could only see you now! What’s the most New York thing about you? 

“I’m a terrible driver.”

What’s the biggest difference between you and your Persian mother? 

“My mother was raised with shame and fear. I feel a sense of entitlement that my mother did not, and I mean that in the best possible way.”

What are the highs and lows of Park City? 

“The worst thing is the possibility of getting overwhelmed. I imagine it will be a bit chaotic like a film production — the same level of excitement and, quite possibly, anxiety. I don’t want to sweat the small stuff because Appropriate Behavior is my heart on my sleeve. I am in such a lucky position going in there as a director because it’s a filmmaker’s festival. That said, I love a hot tub party, so I would not say no to that opportunity!”

What are you packing? 

“A lot of Emergen-C and a homeopathic cold remedy. Luckily, I am not going alone. My girlfriend’s face is like my valium.”

What was your big break? 

“This film being made. My last project, The Slope, may have been an award-winning web series, but it didn’t land me a meeting at CAA, OK?”

What’s the buzz about Appropriate Behavior? 

“It’s a painfully honest film with a wicked sense of humor because the saddest moments of my life have also been the funniest. There are so many cliches about ugly girls and Iranians and gay people and women who want to become titans of their industries. All of my characters are contradictions of themselves, which is something that is rarely depicted in films. But women in their twenties can be lost and yet know very clearly what they want at the same time. This happens to be my thesis film for NYU, you know.”

Did you get a good grade? 

“The male teachers said: ‘We love your self-deprecating humor.’ But a female teacher said: ‘I don’t think it is self-deprecating at all. I think you are owning every minute of it with no fear.’

One of your professors hailed you as “the Iranian-American, lesbian Lena Dunham.” The Girls creator also happens to have a film at Sundance this year. Do you two have anything in common? 

“I would like to think we are both less afraid of trying something and having it be a disaster than not trying something. I respect Lena because she has shown the industry that money can be made off unique female perspectives.”

Before you became a Sundance sensation, did you ever have a normal job?

“I was a live-in nanny for a billionaire family from the Middle East. Not long ago, I was hand-washing their underwear alongside a bunch of middle-aged Filipino women. It was surreal and the children despised me.”

John Boyega

Sundance Film: Imperial Dreams

Interview by James Patrick Herman  Photographs by Jeff Vespa

Where are you from? 

“London, which is such a multicultural city. I’m a Nigerian as well as a Londoner, and I am able to practice my culture to the fullest. It’s a city that accommodates that.”

Big break? 

“Attack the Block. It was an alien invasion movie. I auditioned for the film eight times and finally got the part.”

Describe your character in Imperial Dreams.

“The word that stands out to me is reformed. He’s man who is trying to change despite his circumstances. He wants to escape the hood and that gangster mentality to become everything society does not expect him to be.”

Do you identify with your character? 

“I grew up in southeast London and at the time, it was a violent place. Kids who were running around and doing the wrong things — the hard guys who could make the most money on the streets — were praised. But I made a decision to stay away from all that. I didn’t want to be respected for those types of things. I realized that life is bigger than that.”

What’s the buzz? 

“It offers a different perspective than other films we’ve seen about Watts and South L.A. But essentially, it is about truth and love.”

What have you heard about Sundance? 

“The best thing I have heard is that Robert Redford’s integrity has absolutely influenced the film festival. So there are no CGI extravaganzas; instead, there are human stories and audiences that want to gain something from them. I’ve also heard about the wild after-parties and certain cold individuals who wake up naked on the side of a mountain.”

What about before you became a Sundance sensation? 

“I worked as an assistant to the director of a theater. I was answering the phone and making calls but I had a motive: It was just to get close to the actors. A lot of people said: ‘You don’t want to do this.’ But I knew my legacy would be different. So I moved on to different avenues till I met the right people.”

I take it that you’re a big fan of Robert Redford. 

“He is a pioneer, isn’t he? This idea of not just being an actor but also using your credibility and influence to do something that will benefit others who are coming up. He has created an opportunity to showcase films that do not usually see the light of day, which is bloody inspirational. Plus, he is going to be in the next Captain America film, which is badass at his age. Redford is the original G.”